Cover construction for containers



Feb. 16, 1937 G. F. BRAWN COVER CONSTRUCTION FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan.15, 1935 IHVENTOR;

Patented Feb. 16, I 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,010,881 covnacons'muc'rion roa commas Guy F. Brawn, South Portland, Maine ApplicationJanuary 15, 1935, Serial No. 1,919 3 Claima, (or 220-48) The inventionhereinafter to be described relates, in general terms, to containers,such for instance as are, used in marketing food and other products.

The invention deals more specifically with the elected to choose theordinary sardine can as the vehicle in connection with whichtoillustrate and describe it. I wish it understood, however, that I donot restrict myself to this'particular form of application as theinvention is capable of use and interpretation'in various otherstructures.

Sardine cans, like many other carriers of products, may be and in thepast have been quite commonly opened by using any one of. various typeof can-openers.

These tools have almost invariably operated on the principle of firstpuncturing the cover at one point, and from that 10- cation shearing themetalplate along the marginal portion of seam.

Can manufacturers now supply covers the cover, close to the locking thediaphragm portion of which can be stripped from the marginal portionswithout resort to canopeners just referred to; and it is with thisparticular form of cover, but with improvements incorporated therein,that the present invention is concerned.

In producing covers deep score is made on face, preferably the inner,and this score line of the stripping type a either the outer or innerextends generally completely around the margin of the cover, somewhatweakening the plate on the score. line.

In certain types of scored covers, however, more or less trouble arises,particularly-when the puncture is made on the scored line, in startingthe stripping operation.

when punctured at both sides of the score the interior of the can theabove mentioned point,

turn inwardly, or toward body, and it is frequently difficult tostraighten the side of the portion to be stripped so that it tears awayfrom the marginal portions of the cover satisfactorily.

. In the present invention I have sought to overcome this deficiency byone entirely outside the portion score, but in employing two scorelines, main or removable-coverclose proximity thereto.

, of the cover it drawn to a somewhat enlarged line 3, is the part ofthe cover to be removed when This smaller, or primary score line permitsthe strippingtool to pass into the body of the can without effect on themain score line. Once the key, or stripping tool, passes below the planecan easily be tilted under the 5 main' score line, raising the end ofthe portion to be stripped to anoint where it can easily be engaged bythe stripping implement and removed from the main portion of the cover.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated what, at the presenttime, I consider a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in thedrawing, in which like parts are identified by similar characters ofreference,-

Fig. l is a perspective view of a sardine can with a cover scored inaccordance with my in- .vention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same,

scale;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 except with reference to the small, orprimary scored line;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the stripping key;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the stripper ke Fig. 5a. is likeFig. 5 except that the end is shown square instead of bevelled;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 2;

. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show the various steps in the preliminary strippingoperation;

Fig. 10 is a. fragmentary perspective view, part-- ly in section,showing a stripping key mounted on a can, with the cover thereof readyto be stripped, and

Fig. 11 is a section on line "-4 I, Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, I represents a sardine can and-2 the covertherefor. The cover is secured to the body of the can by a locked seamS, and may, of course, .be removed therefrom by the use of theconventional metal-shearing tool which formerly constituted the onlymeans for accomplishing this object.

But can covers are now made which may be removed in a much simplermanner, involving the sinking of a relatively deep score around themarginal portions of the cover, this score 3, in the sardine canconforming quite closely to the shape of the can, which in this type ofcontainer is generally rectangu ar.

The portion 2a., which is enclosed by the score.

about to gain access to the product in the can, and on one end of thisremovable portion is a by the score line.

the'tongue 4 and the lock tongue 4, also enclosed Between the end 'ofseam S is a smaller score 5. which for identiflca- 56 up'with the foodor other product.

tion purposes I will score, the longer or acterlzed as the secon Asillustrated in Fig. 2 the primary score is made semi-circular in shape,with the rounded part adjacent the tongue 4. This primary score may bemade straight, as shown in Fig. 3, but for practical purposes I preferthe circular form as it is better adapted to centraiire the strippingtool and keep it in alignment with the tongue during the strippingoperation. which will shortly be described.

In Fig. 4 I show a stripper key 8 having a slot 1 and a wedge-shapepoint 6a. InFig. 5a. there is shown a key end square, instead ofbevelling. Either of these keys will serve for the purpose of making theinitial puncture, but the wedge-shape rder score I being charscore.

I prefer insofar as its practicability is concerned.

In using the stripper key for the purpose of removing the diaphragmportion 2a of the cover, the first operation consists in puncturing thecover within the score linel, as depicted in Fig.

7. It will be observed that the lip or tongue I is sheared downwardly.

but not severed from the main portion of the cover which, if it were,would present difliculty in the severed piece being mixed The nextoperation, shown in Fig. 8, contemplatesv breaking through the narrowsection of plate at 8 by levering the stripper key over the top of theseam S, which latter serves as a very convenient fulcrum. Besidesbreaking through the portion ,8, this operation starts the upward turnof the tongue 4 and starts to sever it by stripping from the adjoiningportion of the nonremovable-part of the cover. Continuing thedepressing-movement of the key brings its point position, with respectto the cover. The stripper key is then placed over the cover, as shownin Fig. 10, with the slot enclosmanipulating the key by dicated by arrowA the portion in will be wound into a roll. as shown in dotted lines at:r; and

continuing the rotating movement of the key it dimclilt has becomestripped will advance in the direction indicatedby arrow B until thecomplete inner portionof the cover from the marginal portions thereof.

'I'he first essential requirement in stripping the the cover from thenondetachable part is to start the connection with'the remainder of thecover.

I have found that used on the score line 3; as

tion of the key overv it when at its marginal portions, a

tongue 4 from its tour of the long,

score being employed'to assist in puncturing said subsequentlyto insertthe "slotted por-Y I 9,070,881 refer to as the primary With the presentof the cover is made so close to the seam that away from its connectionwith the adjacent part of the cover, and rise in a substantiallystraight condition, making it convenient and possible to apply theslotted key thereto.

It will be noted that the portions 3:: of the score line 3 diverge fromthe tongue 4 and then -merge, into the longitudinal lines of the scorein a curve 3b.

In my present conception the primary score 5 is so disposed on the imityto said seam on three sides of the coverand further removed from theseam on the fourth side thereof, the score on the fourth side beingirregular and including a tongue-shape contouredportion, and a shortlength score disposed on said cover between said tongue-shape portion ofthe first mentioned score and said seam, the two said scores beingseparate and disconnected, relatively.

2. A can cover adapted to be secured to a can score made in said coversurrounding a portion adapted to be stripped from'said cover incident tothe opening of said can, a second, semi-circular score sunk into saidcover, outside and independent of said first mentioned score, atongue-shape extension, the margins of which are included in the outlineof said first mentioned score, disposed contiguous to said second scorewhereby in the preliminary 3. A cover structure for containers adaptedto 1 be secured at endless score, said semi-circular cover whereby saidtongue-shape portion may be raised by stripping, the pressure beingapplied from the under side with a stripping tool.v

GUY r. nnawn.

